HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0927.046 2004-2006
July 19th, 2006
Chairman Stacy Higa, Vice Chair Virginia Isbell,
Members of the Hawaii County Council,
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo HI 96720
Dear Chairman Higa and Members of the Council,
I am Rick Vidgen representing the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors®, HIBR represents
almost 1,000 licensed real estate agents island wide. Today we are speaking in
opposition to Resolution 381-06.
As a long term resident of Kona I am well aware of the reasons why Chairman Pilago
may be proposing this moratorium since I also "endure" the current quite dreadful traffic
conditions that plague this area.
As well I, and other members of HIBR have participated significantly in the KCDP
process and heard the many useful but often quite unrealistic ideas that have emerged
from it. We have observed that a great many of the participants are relatively recent
arrivals in Kona.
We are very aware of the high cost of housing in Kona and can advise that the base cause
of this is the lack of inventory of residential properties and the land on which to build
them.
We oppose this resolution on 2 bases:
1. There is no evidence to suggest that a development moratorium has ever had any
positive impact except to escalate property prices even further and thus drive
lower/middle income families even further from facilities and jobs.
This effect has been well documented in areas like Santa Barbara and Santa Fe where
"no growth" laws have done just this.
We know that we are already in the midst of a housing crisis for the "working homeless"
where paid workers simply have no place to live.
As well we believe that the trickle down effect of a moratorium on our local economy
could be disastrous particularly when it is added to the recently reported national
economic slowdown.
This impact would be felt by virtually every segment of our economy in West Hawaii and
across the Island.
.2.There is no defined "end" to the CDP process since it makes little sense to adopt a
"Kona" plan until the remainder of the district plans are completed and integrated into the
Hawaii Island General plan as they need to be. Thus this ordinance could paralyze the
Kona region for years and just provide a further excuse for not bringing the Kona
infrastructure up to its required level. We appreciate that the resolution calls for this toQ ~f
Comm. No. "1 Z~'1
Ref. To: Eta &Rwl
Ref. Date. Li 2446
end in January 2007 but are concerned that it may prove tempting and relatively easy to
just leave it in place.
This said we would certainly support the institution of a more critical analysis of the
traffic/infrastructure impact of any rezoning applications.
We strongly urge the council to actually execute the development of the promised (but
never delivered) road infrastructure in West Hawaii. We have been previously advised
that the Mayor gave Kona traffic and infrastructure "top priority" and yet it now seems
that we will get a $50-$60 million Civic Center in Kona (and a $40 million annex in Hilo
) before we get the mid level and connector roads to access it! Please build the roads that
have been promised and let the Planning Department do their job on rezoning.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify and look forward to continuing to work together
for a better Hawaii Island.
Sincerely, _
ick Vidgen, RA